https://www.myjoyonline.com/rio-olympics-2016-shaunae-miller-wins-400m-gold-after-diving-to-cross-line/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/rio-olympics-2016-shaunae-miller-wins-400m-gold-after-diving-to-cross-line/

 

Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas won a dramatic gold medal in the women's 400m final at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In a thrilling finish, Miller stumbled and then dived across the line as she edged out American world champion Allyson Felix to win in 49.44 seconds.

Felix, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, took silver in 49.51 seconds with Jamaica's Shericka Jackson third.

"The only thing I was thinking was the gold medal, and the next thing I know, I was on the ground," Miller said.

"It was just a reaction," she added. "I've never done it before. I have cuts and bruises, a few burns."

Great Britain's Christine Ohuruogu, who won Olympic gold in 2008 and silver in 2012, failed to reach the final.

Miller added: "I don't know what happened. My mind just went blank. I heard my mom screaming. When I heard her screaming, I was like, 'OK, I had to have won the race'.

A tearful Miller, who was the flagbearer for her country at the opening ceremony, told BBC Sport: "It is such an emotional moment for me. Before I came into the race I told myself, 'This is the moment I've been waiting for' and I just gave it my all."

Her coach Lance Brauman added: "She gave everything she had and her legs gave out at the line. It was not intentional."

Miller, 22, finished second to Felix at the World Championships in Beijing in 2015 and had a decent lead with 50 metres remaining.

However, with Felix closing quickly, a fatigued Miller collapsed over the line to win the gold medal by 0.07secs.

Felix, 30, who won the 200m at London 2012 and has three relay gold medals, claimed a third silver medal of her career.

She now has seven Olympic medals - more than any other woman in US history.

Felix, who failed to make the 200m team after injury affected her preparation for the US Olympic trials, said: ""It hurts right now. I don't think I ever quite had a year this tough."

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